WE360º Business Essentials Program
WE360° is a free beginning business and entrepreneurship program facilitated by YWCA Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. With in-person and/or remote sessions led by Virginia Highlands Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the program is divided into an orientation and four weekly segments plus several private mentoring appointments. Lessons are taught by the SBDC and guest speakers and encapsulate key components of entrepreneurship and small business, including:
- Business plan and business structure: explore the details of writing the perfect business plan, and decide what type of business structure best suits your needs.
- Budgeting and financing: learn how to best calculate your expected costs and revenues and how to convince prospective investors to believe in your business.
- Customer discovery: dive into the critical topic of how to find your customers and understand their wants and needs, as well as how to analyze your competition for customers.
- Marketing and website optimization: learn best practices and how to get the most bang for your buck and time, whether through social media, website, or other marketing avenues.
Additionally, students have access to personalized business counseling from the SBDC and their comprehensive library of business training topics.
WE360° is perfect for:
- Aspiring or budding entrepreneurs
- Main Street and “mom & pop” businesses
- Part-timers—farmers, market vendors, online sellers, artisans, etc.
- Small businesses and job creators
- Full-time employees looking to start their own business
- You!
WE360° is offered several times a year, including through our partner initiative Project YES Business and Innovation Center in Glade Spring, VA. For more information—or to discuss adapting a cohort for a particular group or student needs—contact us at we360@ywcatnva.org.
